Improvement in looms



13 Sheets-{Sheet 1.-

,R. H. H. HUNT. Loom.

No. 214,506. Patented April 22, I879.

itnesses i wmngm NPEIERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHXNG'ION. QC

13 Sheets-Sheet2.

-R. H. H. HUNT.

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No. 214,506. Patented April 22, 1879.

lillllllH Inventor" X M/V/fl/M Witnesses SHINGTON D C N.FETERSv PHOTO-LITHOGRAPH 13 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Loom.

Patented April 22,1879.

R. H. H. HUNT.

tneslses zl m/m N. PETERS, PHOTO LITHOGRAP 13 Sheets-Sheet 4.

R. H. FL HUNT. Loom.

Patented April 22, 1879.

1 5.25.5555: .l: w I I Knve tom M dddv/ d M N4PETERS PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WAHIHGTON D O 13 Sheets-Sheet 5.

R. H. H. HUNT.

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Patented April 22, 1879.

Inventor d H |I|[ llfl: s m x H h k 1| 1 i a A? 1 Q 7 1 q Witnesses M i N. PETERS. PNOTO-LITHOGHAPNER, WASHINGTON, D C.

13' Sheets-Sheet 6.

R. H. H. HUNT.

Loom.

No. 214,506. Patented April 22, I879.

[[11 I MIR-Ill: m mullmum I f @M W4 i /f w "tnesses 13 Sheets Sheet 7.

R. H. H. HUNT.

Loom.

No. 214,506. Patented April- 22, 1879.

III/144;"

N-FETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C

I3 Sheets-Sheet 8.

R. H. H. HUNT.

Loom.

No. 214,506. Patented April 22, 1879.

13 Sheets-Sheet 9,

R. H. H. HUNT.

Loom.

No. 214,506. Patented April 22, 1879.

Fig-13 ll! Ii x it n e s s e s N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAFHER, WASmNGTON. D10.

13 Sheets-Sheet 10.

R. H. H, HUNT.

Loom.

No. 214,506. Patented April 22, 1879.

Witnesses N. PETERS, PHOT 13 Sheets-Sheet 11.

R. H. H. HUNT.

No. 214,506. Patenfed April 22, 1879.

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No. 214,50 Patented A r l 22', 1879.

Witnesses 13 Sheets-81: set 13.

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I Patented I ViI R. H. H. HUNT.

N'rrEn STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. H. HUNT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF HIS RIGHT TO NATHAN \V. SPAULDING, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,506, dated April 2'2, 1879; application filed October 30, 1877.

To all irlzom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonner H. H. HUNT, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of Galitbrnia, have invented Improvemen ts in Looms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip most former machines, but a number of cops or spools are mounted on spindles outside of the loom, and their yarns or threads are tied together to form one continuous yarn, so that as soon as one cop or spool is exhausted the yarn begins to draw from the next one, and so on, new cops or spools being supplied and connected as often as necessary.

The shuttle is simply a yarn or thread carrier, and for this purpose is provided with a pair of automatic nippers at each end, which seize the end of the yarn or thread which is delivered to it by feeders at each end of the shuttle-race. The shuttle simply carries the yarn through the shed, and while the'warp is being crossed by the movement of the heddles the filling is severed from the yarn by a cutter operated automatically at the starting-point of the shuttle, so that the lay beats up a thread or yarn about equal in length to the width of the warp. The ends of the severed wefts will therefore be left projecting from the edges of the fabric. These projecting ends of the yarns or threadscan either be left on the edge of the cloth, to be subsequently trimmed off or felted in, or they may be interwoven inthe edge of the fabric to form a list or selvage. In the present instance I represent an arrangement of curved needles for drawing in the ends of the yarns or threads, so that they will be interwoven to form a selvage.

My invention also includes the following improvements in looms, which areespecially adapted to my improved method of weaving, but which may be applied to power-looms of other constructions: First, an improved arrangement for driving the shuttle; second, certain automatic devices which are operated by a broken thread or yarn to disconnect the loom-pulley from the driving-pulley, said de vices being located at different parts of the loom, so that any derangement in the operation, whether created by a broken thread or otherwise, will cause the loom to stop instantly.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is an isometric view of the loom with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2, Sheet'2, is a top view. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a longitudinal vertical section taken through line w m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 4, is a transverse'vertical section. Fig. 5, Sheet 5, is a bottom view. Fig. 6, Sheet 6, is a rear view of a portion of the loom, showing the warp-sweeps and the mechanism for operating the same. 7, Sheet -7, is a skeleton view, showing the mechanism for stopping the loom in case of breakage of a thread or yarn in front of the reed. Fig. 8, Sheet 8, is a plan, showing the upper part of the cloth-beam and needles'inverted. Fig. 9, Sheet 8, is a plan' view of the under side of the lower part of the cloth-plate and plates Q. Fig. 10, Sheet 9, is a bottom view of the shuttle-race beam. Fig. 11, Sheet 9, is a view of the mechanism for shifting the feeder-boxes. Fig. 12, Sheet 9, is a plan of the let-ofi' motion for the yarn-beam. Fig. 13, Sheet 10, is a plan of mechanism in front of the reed, with upper part of breast beam removed. Fig. 14, Sheet 10, is a transverse section of shuttle-housing, picker, and shuttle-race. Fig. 15, Sheet 10, is a view of the mechanism for operating the latches under the race-beam, with portion, broken away to show the operation of the switch plate and vibrating lever. Fig. 16, Sheet 10, is a view of one end of the race-beam, showing the picker-plate and device for unlatching the shuttle. Fig. 17, Sheet 11, is a perspective view of shuttle. Fig. 18, Sheet 11, is a horizontal section of shuttle. Fig. 19, Sheet 11, is a bottom View of shuttle. Fig. 20, Sheet 11, is a transverse section of shuttle. Fig. 21, Sheet 11, is an isometric of a portionof the race-beam, showing cutter, latching-lever, and

device for releasing the latch. Fig. 22, Sheet 7 11, is a view of a feeder for feeding one or more threads to the shuttle. Fig. 23, Sheet 11, is a view of same with sliding block detached. Fig. 24, Sheet 11, shows the shuttle locked in the act of taking the yarn-from the feeder. Fig. 25, Sheet 8, Fig. 26, Sheet 3, and Fig. 27, Sheet 7, are details referred to. Fig. 28 is a top view of the breast-beam and devices thereto attached in operative position, in full and dotted lines. Fig. 29 is a horizontal section, showing the mechanism for operating the warpsweeps and the stopping mechanism connected therewith.

The same letters and figures of reference which arensed to identify a particular part of the machine in one sheet or figure are used in all other sheets to represent the same part.

A represents the frame. and B the lay or lathe, of a power-loom. G is the reed which beats the filling into the warp. At each end of the lay is mounted a box, D, which I call the feeder-box, because it contains the feeders which deliver the thread or yarns to the shuttle. These feeder-boxes are attached, in the present instance, to the ends of the lay; but it will be evident that they could be at tached to the frame, or to some other support properly disposed either inside or outside of the frame, according to the length and construction of the lay.

E E are the feeders, one or-more of which may be placed in each feeder-box. v

W'hen ordinary plain goods are to be woven a single feeder only will be required at each end, and in this case the feeder-box will remain stationary; but if the fabric is to be woven in various colors, one feeder will be required at each end of the lay for each colored thread or yarn used, and the feeders are then disposed so that a partial rotary motion of the box about a fixed center will bring either one of the feeders opposite the shuttle, according to the colored thread or yarn desired; or thefeeder-box could be arranged to move in a horizontal plane to adjust the feeders to the shuttle.

Each feeder consists of a tube, (represented at Figs. 23, 24,-and 25, Sheet 11,) which passes horizontally through the upper end of the feeder-box in a plane parallel with the shuttle-race. The inner end of each feeder is, cut away on opposite sides for a short distance, so as to leave two narrow arms, a a, projecting from opposite sides of the tube, and these arms are thinned down to form light springs.

A nipping-jaw, b, is formed on the end of each arm or spring, the inside edge of which is inclined, so that the inner edges of the two jaws form a V-shaped angle. A small tube, 0, projects between these'arms or springs from the end of the feeder-tube E to near the outer ends of the springs a a, the hole through this tubec corresponding in direction with the hole in the feeder-tube E, and is directly in line with the meeting-point of the two jaws b b.

The small tube 0 serves as a guide for a block, F, to move upon. This block is about half as long as the springs a a, and is cylindrical, with two opposite sides flattened, so that it will fit and move between the springs. The block has a hole through its center, so that it can move over the spindle or tube 0, and a coiled spring, d, is passed over the tube 0 behind the block, which presses the block forward so that its extremity will bear against the inside V-faces of the nipper-jaws.

The forward end of the block F is nearly solid, and has a nipple, e, projecting from its center, through which a small hole is made in line with the main bore of the feeder-tube, and

on one side of the nipple e is a projecting inclined face, as represented in Fig. 23.

f is a projecting lug, which engages with the operating mechanism inside of the feederbox, to give the necessary movement to the feeders, as hereinafter more fully described.

The shuttle shown at Figs. 17, 1'8, 19, and 20, Sheet 11, is simply a block of metal or other suitable material, pointed at both ends, and provided with a pair of automatic nippers at each end. This shuttle can be made quite small compared with the ordinary shuttle, sufficient weight to keep it on the shuttle-race and give it momentum being all that is required. The side of the shuttle which moves against the reed I make fiat, and the outside curved, for convenience.

I apply the propelling force which drives the shuttle from end to end of the race at a point in advance of its center, according to the principle adopted by boys in throwing darts. I apply this principle in the following manner: Near the bottom of the shuttle I make a hole longitudinally through it, and then I make a narrow slot connecting the hole with the bottom of the shuttle, thus forming.

a groove which is wider at its upper part than the entrance to the groove. In this groove I place a short rod or bar, 9 which can slide freely from end to end of the groove without dropping through-the slot in the bottom of the shuttle.

A suitable stop or abutment is arranged at each end of the groove, against which the rod will strike when it arrives at either end of the shuttle. At the same time these abutments do not obstruct the entrance of the propelling device at the ends of the groove. The propelling device which I use in lieu of the pickerstaff of an ordinary loom is a plate, 71, which projects through a slot in the race-beam at each end of the shuttle-race, and which is impelled by the force of a spring to impart an impetus to the shuttle, as more fully described hereinafter.

The rod or bar in the shuttle serves as a buffer, to receive the impact or force of the spring each time the shuttle arrives at the end of the race. As the shuttle enters its housing the picker-plate enters the end of the groove and shifts the bufier to the opposite end, ready for the next impulse.

Each end of the shuttle is bifurcated vertically, so as to form two branches, and each end is provided with a pair of nippers, as shown at Figs. 18 and 19, The rear branch forms the permanent or fixed jaw, while the movable jaw isembedded in the front face of the shuttle. Each movable jaw is pivoted at its middle, so that the end which extends from the pivot toward the middle of the shuttle will serve as a lever to open the jaw at the opposite or outer end when it is pressed inward. Two movable jaws could be applied at each end but one is sufficient and much more simply operated.

11 (see Fig. 13) is ashuttle-housing or openended box, into which the shuttle is received at each end of the race. In the side of this housing or box are two pins, K K, which are so disposed that by pressing in on one of them the outer jaw of the shuttle is opened, while the pressure upon the other opens the inner jaw. These pins are operated upon automatically as follows hen the shuttle arrives at one 'end of the race it is carrying theend of the thread or yarn which it hroughtfrom the opposite end of the race, and for reasons hereinafter to be explained it must retain its hold upon this thread or yarn until the lay has beaten up the filling. I It must therefore release the end of the yarn as the lay moves back. Meantime, however, the outside jaw of the shuttle can be seizing the end of the thread or yarn, which the shuttle will carry back in its reverse movement.

A standard, I, is secured to the inside edge of the breast-beam, opposite the outside pin, K, and a set-screw passes through it in line with the end of the pin. As the lay moves against the breast-beam the end of this screw strikes the end of pin K and opens the outside jaw of the shuttle, so that the carrier which is opposite thevshuttle can deliver the end of its thread or yarn to the jaw. The

' other pin, K, is operated as the lay moves back by a plate, J, Fig. 13, Sheet 10, which is centrally pivoted below it, so that its upper end will press upon the end of the pin when its lower endis forced outward. Anarrow springplate, 0, is secured to the breast-beam so as to project from it and pass directly under this plate. As the lay beats up, the lower end of the'plate J moves up the incline of the plate 0, and its upper end is forced away from the end of the pin; but as the lay begins to move. back the foot of the plate J is forced outward by its friction upon the aforesaid plate 0, audits upper end presses the pin K inward, so as to open the jaw and release the end of the thread or yarn.

A shear or cutter, Fig. 2, Sheet 2, and Fig. 13, Sheet 10, which serves to sever the filling or weft thread from the length of the thread or yarn which is held by the feeder, is mounted at each end of the shuttle-race. Each cutter consists of a permanent blade or sharp-cornered steel block,I which is embedded transversely' in the shuttlerace, directly in front of the shuttle, when it is landed in the housingor box, and a movable cutting-blade, 1 which is opened by a spring, j.

When the lay is beating up, this movable blade is closed down upon or against the edge of the permanent blade at the end of the race from which the shuttle started by a plate, J which projects from the breast-beam, so as to sever the thread or yarn, as above specified.

A recess, k is made alongside the permanent jaw, into which the movable blade closes, and is latched after it has been fully depressed. When the movable blade is closed the back of the cutter is flush with the shuttle-race, and it remains in this position until the shuttle has moved over it on its return pick, after which the cutter at the opposite end of the race is closed, the operation of the cutters being alternate.

An arm, 1, is attached to the movable blade of the shears or cutter, so as to extend toward the sh Little-housing and strike the inclined projection on the end of the feeder E as the shear? blade closes. This forces the block F back on its spindle before the cutter severs the thread, and allows the feeder-jaws to close upon the end of the thread.

The operation of the feeder-jaws at the opposite ends of the race is accomplished alternately and automatically by devices hereinafter specified.

A tubular connecting-beam, 1? (shown at Fig. 3, Sheet 3,) extends across the lay below the shuttle-race beam, and in this beam the springs which move the feeder-carriers are placed. These devices are partially operated by mechanism attached to the breast-beam.

The breast-beam I make preferably in two parts, K L, each of which is a rigid plate or bar of metal or other suitable material. These two parts are separated by blocks M M, so that a space will be left between them.

Plates Q, Fig. 9, Sheet 8, are attached to the lower part, L,-of the breast-beam,one near each end of the loom, so as to project back between the shuttle-race beam and tubular connecting-beam. For c'onveni ence in adj usting these plates, I first attach them to bedplates, and then attach the bed-plates to the under side of the breast-beam. These bedplates can be adjusted as desired, carrying the bed-plates Q with them. This is preferable to making the plates Q adj ustableindependently; I

The plates Q project back, as above stated, between the shuttle-race beam and tubular connecting-beam P, and they carry the cams,

tends from each of these plates (see Fig. 14.) down through a slot in the under side of the beam, and has a friction-roller, k secured horzontally upon it.

A-plate 11, projects from the lower part of the breast-beam at each end, opposite the picker-arm h the outside of said plate 22 being made inclined or tapering, so that asthe lay heats up a fillingthe inclined edge of each plate will strike the corresponding roller 71 and force it outward toward the extremity .of the race-beam, thus condensing the spring and forcing the plate h to its set position. A spring-latch, 20, (see Fig. 10,) then engages with the picker-arm h and latches the plate in its set position, ready to be released to throw the shuttle, as before described.

WVhen the shuttle arrives home after each pick it must be locked in place until the next impulse is given it to drive it on another pick, andthis lock must be released at the same time, or rather just an instant before, the impulse is given to the shuttle. To do this I secure one end of a'flat spring, m, (see Fig. 14,) to the outside of the shuttle-housing, and to the upper end of this spring I secure a pin or bolt, n, which projects through a hole in the housing.

The shuttle is provided with a hole, 2", in

its outside face, so that as the shuttle enters the housing its tapering form will crowd the pin or bolt back until it comes opposite the hole or socket, when it will drop into the socket 2 and lock the shuttle inplace. To

disengage this bolt at the proper instant, I

make two transverse recesses in the upper side of the race-beam, between the slot in which the picker-plate h moves and the outside of the beam. These recesses I make close together, and in each I secure a lever horizontally by a rivet or screw, which passes through its center. The inner end of the outside lever, 0 (see Fig. 16)or, in other words, the lever which is nearest the end of the race-beam-extends across the slot in which the picker-plate h moves, while its outer end is flush with the outside face of the beam. The lever 19 also extends across the picker-slot at its inner end, while its outer end projects beyond the outside edge of the beam. A pin, q, is arranged to slide in a hole in the beam between the outer ends of these levers, so as to connect the movement of one lever with the other.

Theextremity of the outer end of the lever 19 is formed with'two angles, as represented at Fig. 16, Sheet 10. One edge is beveled in one direction and the other is beveled in an opposite direction, so that when the lever is at oblique angles to the race beam the outside be'veled or angular face will be flush with the outside edge of the beam; but when the inside end, which crosses the picker-slot, is moved to ward the middle of the beam, the projecting angle between the two inclined edges will push the spring m outward before the opposite face comes opposite the spring m. Now, as the picker-plate is moved back by theinclined edge of theplate V, it passes the trippoint or end of the lever 12 and strikes the inner end of the lever 0 and by moving this lever back forces both levers to a position at right angles to the beam, thus moving the pin back as the shuttle enters the housing, and dropping it as soon as the shuttle is in place, and throwing the trip-point of lever 12 across the slot in front of the picker-plate h, ready to be tripped when the shuttle moves out again.

The shuttle being in its housing and locked by the pin a, when the lay moves back after beating up a filling the latch W for locking the picker-arm is released by a pin, g on the end of a vibrating plate, which will be hereinafter described. This releases the spring S, so that it will drive the picker-plate it forward and throw the shuttle. The first motion of the plate h, however, in starting on a pick, causes it to strike the projecting end of the lever p, which crosses the slot in front of it and moves it forward. The motion imparted to this lever by this initial movement causes the apex of the V-shaped or projecting angu lar point atthe outer end of the lever to strike the spring at and force it outward, so as to withdraw the pin a from the hole in the shuttle. The operation occurring at the same moment or just before the impulse is given to the shuttle, the latter is free to be thrown, both operations being performed almost simultaneously. \Nhen the shuttle returns it finds the trip-point of the plate 1) out of the way, and passes by it, but strikes the inner projecting end of the outside plate, 0 and by pressing forces both levers again to a position at right angles to the length of the beam, ready for another pick.

The feeder-box D can be made in any desired shape or form. Where a large number of feeders are to be used, probably the best form would be cylindrical, and the feeders could be arranged around its periphery. This box is mounted upon a pivot or shaft, about which it moves as a center to bring either feeder or each successively opposite the shuttle, 1 according to circumstances. In the present instance I have represented a box with two feeders, and the motion imparted to it is reciprocatory, so as to bring first one and then the other feeder opposite the shuttle alternately.

The feeder-carrier, which is hereinafter described, has a transverse slot in its upper edge,

in which the lug of each feeder is caught alternately as the box carries the feeders to it. A spring with a ledge on its free end is arranged inside of the bOX'D, on each side of the feeder-carrier, as shown at 3/ 11 Fig. 26.

As the ledges are in line with the slot of the feeder-carriers, the box D, in shifting its position, alternately moves the lugs of the feeders on and off these ledges and into and out of the slot. As the free ends of the springs lie against the feeder-carrier, the movement of the box presses or releases them, and thus moves them out of the way of the lug and feeder-carrier, or admits of their holding the lug in position to enter the slot, and, together with the pin 6 on the inside of the box, prevents the feederlug from becoming accidentallydisarranged, and keeps it always in position to enter the slot. The feeder-carrier also strikes a projection,-i on the inside of the end of the box when it moves out, thus causing its slot to be arrested in the proper position to receive the lug of the feeders.

The shaft or center about which the box moves is marked z. (See Fig. 11.) An arm, 6, extends below this center, to which is attached a plate, .9, the lower end of which has an inverted-V-shaped notch in it. A wheel, '10, is mounted on a center below this plate, and has two outward-projecting arms or pins, a: 00 one of which projects from its upper edge, while the other projects from its lower edge. The upper pin moves in the angle of the V-shaped notch in the plate 8.

l A lever, 31], (see Fig. 11,) is pivoted to the frame. back of the lay, the forward end-of which extends forward opposite the center of the wheel 20 and is provided with an arm or head, 5, which extends at right angles from its extremity toward the wheel to. This lever is operated bymechanism hereinafter described.

To illustrate the method of mo'vin g the feed erboxes, I will take the case in which it is desired to weave an article having fillings of dilferent colors alternating. i Y

The first motion carries the end of the arm or head of the said lever from opposite the upper pin, 01: to a position intermediate between the two pins, and this motion is accomplished while the lay is making one beat. During the next beat of the lay this lever is moved downward, so as to carry its extremity opposite the lower pin, 0;, in time to strike it, and thus partially rotate the wheel 20. This causes the upper pin, 00, to press upon the rear incline of the V-notch of the plate 3, and move the box D about its center 2, and bring the forward feeder opposite the shuttle. The next beat of thelay lifts the. arm of lever y to its intermediate position midway between the two pins, and

' as the arm at the opposite end of the machine operates alternately, the box D at that end is shifted during this alternate beat of the lay, so as to carry one of the feeders opposite, the shuttle on that side. The next beat of the lay raises the arm of lever y opposite the upper pin, :0 and rotates the wheel 10 in an opposite directiomthus shifting the box forward so as to bring the rear feeder opposite the shuttle, and so on, each alternate beat of the lay shifting the feeders at each end of the race. The shuttle is projected by the picker-plate as the lay recedes after each beat, similar to any ordinary loom." When it arrives in its housing it is locked automatically by the bolt n, as before described. As the lay beats up the last weftthread laid in by the shuttle the pin it comes in contact with the setscrew in the standard I, and the outside jaw of the shuttle is opened.

Simultaneously with this movement the feeder which is in line with the shuttle is projected forward slightly, so that the closedjaws of the, feeder which carry the yarn or thread enter between the. open jawsof .theshuttle, as shown at Fig. 24, Sheet 11. The block F is pressed back on its spindle by the jaw of the shuttle coming in contact with the projecting pin i. As soon as the pressure on the pin K is relieved by the backward movement of the lay, the jaw of the shuttle closes on the thread or yarn, close to the block F, inside of the feeder-jaws. The feeder is then withdrawn or moved back'intoits box again. Owing to the V form of their inside faces, the jaws b are forced open, and the feeder is withdrawn, so that the shuttlejaws retain their hold upon the thread or yarn.

Asthe feeder is withdrawn the spring (I forces the nipple 6 between the feeder-jaws, so as to hold them open and allow the thread or yarn to pass readily through. During this operation at one end of the race, the pickerplate is being retracted'and set, and the cutter has severed the filling-yarn which the lay had beaten up at the other end. NVhen the lay recedesto its utmost the picker-plate and device which projects the feeder are both released simultaneously, so that the shuttle is sent on another pick, drawing the yarn from the feeder through the shed, while vthe feeder follows far enough to enter its .forward end close to or a short distance into the shed of the warp. The cutter at the opposite end of the race (see Fig. 13) then descends and sev-' ers the thread near the warp, and the arin l strikes the inclined face of the block F, so as to push the block back from between the jaws of the feeder and allow them to close upon the end of the laid thread at the same instant the nippers e d are projected forward and closed down upon the yarn held by the shuttle, as hereinafter more fully described.

The device a, (see Fig. 3,) which carries the feeder (hereinafter described) in and out of the box D, is connected, by a rod,V, with a spring, 20, which is placed in the tubular connectingbeam 1?. This spring draws the rod toward the middle of the beam and carries the device it against the inner end of the box.

. A slot, 00, (see Fig. 7,) is made inthe upper side of the beam P, at each end, and a pin projects from the outer end of the rod up through it, and on each pin a roller, a is secured horizontally. These rollers move in certain grooves on the under side of the plate Q as the lay beats back and forth, so as to give the shifter device the proper motion.

The device a, has an open transverse slot near its outer end, and as it remains stationary when the box D is shifted, the lugs f on the feeders are successively moved into the slot, so that the feeders are carried with the device when it moves.

, A latch-plate, N, Fig. 3, engages with the rod V, to which the roller a, isattached, when 7 the roller is forced tot-heouter end of the slot, and this latch is released by the operation of the layB about the same time the picker-plate is released.

I have devised a peculiar mechanism for alternately releasing the latches at the opposite ends of the race. This device also operates the needles which draw in the ends of the weft or filling to form the selvage, and releases the shear-latches.

In a full-sized loom I shall use two of these devices, one near each end of the breast-beam; but in the present instance I have represented only one, which is located opposite the middle of the race. It consists of a plate, 0 (see- Fig. 13,)the rear end of which is pivoted to a block, d. This block is mounted on the front of the race-beam at its middle, so that-it can vibrate horizontally." To the plate 0 I impart a swinging motion from side to side horizontally by means of a peculiar switch and track, which is described as follows: An arm, 0 (see Fig. 15,) projects toward the lay from the under side of the breast -beam, opposite or in front of the mounted block al and upon this plate is a lever, j, which is pivoted to it at its middle, so that one end projects to the rear below the race-beam, while its forward end projects toward the breast-beam, as represented at Fig. 15, Sheet 10. The rear end of this lever has a pin or stud, g projecting upward from it, which serves to strike and trip and release the picker-latch Q11 each side alternately. The forward end of the lever is slotted lengthwise.

A shallow box, 7L3, is secured upon the lower part of .the breast-beam, so that its rear end projects over the slotted end of the lever f.-

This box has shallow raised sides andacurved rim around its forward end, while its rear end is open. A block, Z is secured midway between its sides at its rear end, so as to leave a groove or passage on each side between it andtheraised sides. A V-shaped switch-plate, j, is then secured by a pivot in the bottom of the box. The apex of this switch-plate is sufficiently far from the curved outer rim to provide a track or passage-way equal in width to the passage-way on each side of the block Z, and the pivoted point about which it swings is ashort distance in rear of the apex or pointed end. A pin extends from the rear end of this plate down. through a curved slot in the bottom of the box, and moves freely in the slot in the front of the lever f. N ow, by moving the rear or wide end of the switch-plate over against either side of the box, a channel or groove is formed on the opposite side, and the point or apex of the plate is shifted to one side of a direct line drawn longitudinally through the middle of the box. The plate 0 has a roller, m on its under side, near its forward end, and this roller moves in the groove thus formed, and automatically throws the switch-plate j as it passes back along either side, leaving a free track for it to move forward in 011 its reverse motion. The roller m which moves in this track, will then move along the unobstructed track as the lay beats up a filling, and be carried past the apex or point of the V-switch j, so that when the lay starts back the roller will be compelled to take the opposite track, and as it moves outward itwill crowd the'wide end of the switch over across the opposite track, and thus place it in position to repeat the operation, but in reverse direction, when the lay heats up again. This accomplishes two objects. It imparts to the plate 0 a swinging motion from side to sides and gives the wide end of the switchplate j a uniform transverse motion back and forth. The pin 1, which extends down from the rear end of the switch-plate j and moves in the slot in the forward end of the lever f imparts to the rear end of the lever a backand-forth side motion, so as to move said end lever alternately from side to side, so that its pin g can release the latches which look the picker-plate at the opposite ends of the race alternately, performing the operation at the proper instant upon each side just as the lay reaches its farthest position from the breastbeam, or at the instant the shuttle is ready to be thrown.

The swinging plate 0 performs two duties. It alternately releases the cutting-blades which sever the yarns at each end of the race, and operates the needles which draw in the ends of the yarns to form the list or selvage.

The movable blade I of each cutter has a notch on its under side, with which the end of a lever, 01., engages when the cutter is closed down. This lever is secured by a pivot, near its middle, to the front of the race-beam, so that its outer end passes under the rear end of the cutter, one lever being arranged on each side of the middle of the race. A spring, 0 presses the inner end of each lever down, so that the outer end will readily pass into the notch of the cutter when the blade is closed. The inner end of each lever extends close up to the swinging block d, and is provided with a projection on its extremity, which is made inclined on its under side. A pin, 9,

projects from each side of the swinging block d, so that, as the block swings from side to side, the ends of the pins will alternately pass under the inclined faces of the projections and lift the inner ends of the levers, thus depressing the outer ends of the levers, so that they will be released from the notches in thecutter-blades. The spring j then raises the released blade ready for another cutting operation. Thus one of the cutters is released at a time, and the operation is alternate.

A plate, (1 (see Fig. 8,) isattached by a rivet or screw to the end of a projecting arm, 1' which extends from the upper part of the breast-beam, one on each side of the swinging plate 0 To each of these plates a curved needle, .9, is attached, said plate being so pivoted that the needle and plate can be partially rotated for the purpose of drawing the severed end of the thread or yarn into the warp to make a list or selvage. Just back of the point of each needle a barb is made on 0 has a pin, v, projecting from each side, so

that, as the plate is carried to either side by the roller which moves in the grooves hereinbefore specified, the pin on that side will enter the slot or recess in the needle plate, and as the swinging plate moves forward will carry the point of the needle around between the warp, so that its barbed point will catch hold of the end of the thread or yarn, which is held by a pair of nippers, 6' and as the plate 0 moves back by the reverse motion of the lay the needle-point will be retracted, so as to draw the end of the thread between the warp, and thus form a selvage or list.

The swinging pendant it serves as a latch to protect the open barb, and prevents the barbed point from becoming entangled with the threads of the warp as the needle is re tracted, while it does not prevent it from taking hold of the loose end of the filling-yarn.

Each pair of nippers 6" d is mounted upon a block or head, :0, to which one or more sliderods, a a are attached. These rods move in holes in the lower part of the breast-beam, and a spring, 2 projects the block and 11ippers forward when the block is free. A portion or end of the block 00 projects down through a slot in the plate Q.

A lever, 0 (see Fig. 9,) has one end pivoted to the under side of the plate Q, so that when its free end is pressed toward the front of the machine it will strike the portion of the block which projects below the plate.

A pair of nippers is mounted opposite each end of the race. Each pair (see Fig. 13) consists of a permanent or fixed horizontal jaw, (F, and amovable jaw, 6 The upper jaw has a lever-extension, f which projects forward under the upper part of the breast-beam, and a supplementary block, M, (shown inverted at Fig. 26, Sheet 8,) is secured beside each of them. This block has a portion of its rear lower corner next to the lever removed, so as to provide an inclined overhanging ledge, G, which pitches upward from the front of the lower part of the beam toward the rear edge of the upper part. i

A pin, h projects at right angles from the forward end of the lever-extension, so as to strike and move down this incline when the nipper-block is forced toward the cloth beam, thus opening the movable upper jaw.

The movable jaw is closed by a light spring as the block 00 and the nippers are projected forward when the bolt that latches the block is withdrawn. After the shuttle has carried the thread across the race, and just before the inside shuttle-jaw is opened by the pin K, the roller a, (see Fig. 3,) traversing in its path on the under side of the plate Q, comes in contact leases it from the shuttlejaw. The pressure of the spring which closes the movable jaw being light, the thread or yarn is easily drawn from the nippers by the needle. The jaws are made to close past each other if no thread or yarn is caught by them, and this causes the rear end of the. lever to rise farther than it otherwise would. and operate to release the belt which drives the loom, as hereinafter explained.

The roller (t traverses in certain paths on the under side ot'the plate Q, in order to give the proper motion to the feeders, and at the same time set and release the nippers at the proper inoment.

The movements and operations of the roller a at each end of the machine being the same, 1 will describe the operation of one only.

On the under side of the plate Q are two ribs or blocks, j and"t' Fig. 9, Sheet 8. The block t' extends from near the outside corner of the plate at an angle inclining toward the center of the plate, while the block j standsat an angle to the block W, leaving sufticient space between the plate j and its ends for the roller a to pass through.

At the upper end of the block or rib i is a" small block, it, which is secured to the end of a spring, P. (See Fig. 13.) The spring is se-- cured to the upper side of the plate Q, while the'block 70 extends down through a hole in the plate, and projects a short distance below it, in line with the block or rib 6 The portion or side of the block toward the rear edge of the plate is inclined, so that the roller, passing directly toward it from the rear edge of the plate, will move against the incline and press the block k back into the recess in the plate until the roller passes it. The block is then pressed down again by its spring P, so as to bar the roller from moving back on the same track; but as soon as the roller strikes it it is guided by its projecting edge down the incline of the block 4?. The feeder is projected forward from its box into the shuttle-housing simultaneous with the flight of the shuttle through the warp. As the lay moves forward the roller is carried directly toward the block it, which itdepresses and passes over. It is then carried forward, so as to force the lever c toward the front' of the machine, and the nipper-block m is latched by the bolt m .Said' bolt is provided with a bevel upon its end, which is acted upon by the block as as it is moved back. The spring attached to lever 100, to which the bolt is pivoted, acts to throw the bolt forward and latch said block as soon 7 as ithas reached the proper position. This sets the nipper-block .00 and the roller striking. The inclined edge of a small block, 11 is carried outward, so as to withdrawthe feederfroin 

